Combination crib and cradle



D60 1952 w. A. VOCE 2,623,220

COMBINATION CRIB AND CRADLE Filed Oct. 9, 1950 2'SHEETSSHEET 1 Fig- I 20 William A. Voce INVEN TOR.

0 BY %WEMOE W. A. VOCE COMBINATION CRIB AND CRADLE Filed Oct. 9, 1950 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Fig.5

Fig.6 1 8 56 ml-' :f f f" 2 4 62 o .3? William A. Vow

1 0 I INVENTOR. I //l i 6 5o 68' a2 a w -M'a Patented Dec. 30, 1952 UNITED STATES TENT OFFICE f f 1 COMBINATION can; AND CRADLE s g William A. Voce, Florence, Ala.

A plication October 9, 195,0, Serial No. 189,174 's'claims. (01. -106),

This invention relates to improvements in babys equipment. I l- I j i An object of thisinvention is to provide a combination rocker and crib which is movable very easily from one roomto another, which is safe in its use, the device being very easily adapted to be rocked by means of an electric motor or, being very easily rocked either by the child or someone taking care of the child.

Ancillary objectsand features of importance will become apparent in following the description of the illustrated form of the invention.

In the drawings: V

Figure 1 is a top view of the device the springs and mattress beingremqved; 1

Figure 2 is a side view of the device Figure 3 is an end view of the device, portions being broken away in section tojillustrate internal details;

Figure 4 is a view taken substantially on the line 44-of Figure 2 and in the direction of the arrows; f

Figure 5 is an end view ofthedevice;

Figure 6 is a transverse sectional view-taken substantiallyon th line 6-'-6 of Figure 4 and in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of a means of releasing one of the sides of the cradle or crib, and;

Figure 8 is a'fragmentary sectional view showing the means of attaching the control arm to one of the latches to hold the cradle so that it will not move with respect to the crib base.

In carrying out this invention there is provided a cradle generally indicated at Ill having rock ers l2 and I4 on the bottom thereof, disposed on transverse cross members It and is of the base generally indicated at 20. The cradle NJ has a drop side 22 mounted on the rails 23 and 24 by means of the bracket 25, there being an appropriate member provided. The drop side 22 is gravity lowered, it being held in the elevated position by means of the locking rods 28 and 30 which are disposed in the guides 32, carried by said drop side 22. Springs 34 and 36 reacting on collars on the rods 28 and 30 and on two of the brackets 32 constantly hold the rods outwardly so that they seat upon the stops 40 and 42 which are secured to posts forming a part of the cradle Ill.

The smalll case 44 is fixed to the drop side 22 and has finger operating buttons 46 and 41 connected therewith which are attached to the ends of the rods 28 and 30 and specifically, on bent end portions which pass through openings in the case 44. When the two buttons 46 and 4'! are pulled toward each other, the rods 28 and 30 are moved inwardly to become released from the stops 4!] and 42 thereby allowing the drop side 22 to be gravity lowered. This movement of the rods 28 and 30 is opposed by the springs 34. and 36, the same springs holding the rods 23 and 30 outwardly in the stops 4!) and 42 engaging position.

The base 20 consists of a number of posts with the cross members [6 and I8 carried thereby and also by the longitudinal side members 50 and 5|. The posts are provided with casters 52, at least some ofwhich are provided in turn, with stops 54. These stops prevent the casters from rotating whereby when the cradle I0 is rocked on the base, the base will not creep laterally. The specific construction of the stop is relatively simple, consisting of abar which is pivoted to the same axle which holds the wheel of the caster in place, one end of the bar contacting the floor, while the other end contacts the lower surface of the post holding that particular caster, 1

In order to use the assembly as a cradle certain safety features are provided. First attention is invited to Figure 6 wherein there is disclosed a safety or stay bolt 5'! having one end passed through a support bracket 53 which is fixed to the rocker [4. The other end of the safety bolt 51 is passed through a tapered opening formed in the cross member i8. There is ample play provided between the bolt 57 and the tapered opening 60 to allow the rocker id to be operated, but only a predetermined, safe amount. The bolts 51 also prevent cradle and base separation.

A rod 62 is pivoted at one end to the rocker [4 that passes through an eye 64 or an aperture plate, which is carried by the cross member l8. Stop members 65 and 6B are disposed in spaced relationship with respect to each other on the rods 62, one being provided on one side of the eye 64 while the other is provided on the other side thereof. Accordingly when the cradle is rocked, it can only move until such time that the stops engage the eye 64 preventing over movement and creeping of the cradle on the base.

When the device is to be used as a crib, latches are attached to the two rockers. The first latch 58 is in the form of a bar with a notch ll] therein to engage the holding pin 12 which is fixed to the inside surface of the rocker [4. There is a second latch 14 with a notch 16 therein to engage the holding pin '28, fixed to the inside surface of the rocker 12. Both latches l4 and 68 are fixed to an operating rod 8i! which is mounted in bearings 82 and on the base 20. One end of this rod is bent as at 84 and extends outwardly of one end of the base. This bent end constitutes a handle to rotate the rod 80 thereby latching or releasing the two bars 14 and 68 from engagement with the holding pins 18 and 72.

Means holding the two latches 14 and 68 in engagement with the stops or pins 18 and 72 is attached to the base 20 and to the rod 80. This means consists of a spring 86 which is attached to the hook 88, carried by the cross member I6 and to a finger 90 which depends from the bar 89.

As is apparent from an inspection of Figure 3, the safety bolt 51 and the rod 62 have counterparts operatively connected with the rocker l2 and the base 20. It is apparent that certain variations may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. Accordingly, limitation is sought only in accordance with the scope of the following claims.

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. A combination crib and cradle of the portable type comprising a cradle assembly having rockers, a base which includes posts and cross members, said rockers being disposed on two of said. cross members, means for releasably fastening said rockers to said base, preventing rocking movement of the cradle on said base, said rockers having stay bolts attached thereto, and the cross members on which said rockers are disposed having tapered apertures through which said stay bolts pass to thereby prevent separation of said cradle from the base.

2. A combination crib and cradle of the portable type comprising a cradle assembly having rockers, a base which includes posts and cross members, said rockers being disposed on two of said cross members, and means for releasably fastening said rockers to said base, preventing rocking movement of the cradle on said base. said means including a pair of latches carried by said base, means on the cradle to releasably engage said latches, and a single operating bar connected to both of said latches for operating said latches simultaneously.

3. The combination of claim 2 and means yieldingly opposing the operation of said latches from the latched condition.

4. The combination of claim 1 and rods pivoted to said rockers, members having apertures therein fixed to the cross members on which said rockers are disposed and said rods being passed through said apertures, and stops located on each side of said apertured members and fixed to said rods to limit the movement of said rods with respect to said apertured members.

5. A babys device comprising the combination of a cradle and a portable base, said portable base including vertical posts with cross members connected thereto and casters located at the bottom of said posts, at least some of said casters having means to releasably hold them against rotative movement, said cradle having rockers which are disposed on two of said cross members, and means preventing said rockers from separating from said two of said cross members, including stay bolts attached to said rockers and passed through openings in said two of said cross members.

6. The combination of claim 5 and a latch pivoted to one of said cross members, a holding pin attached to one of said rockers and releasably engageable with said latch, and mean for operating said latch.

WILLIAM A. VOCE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

